I doubt that Smith's story listed the complete list of free agents being considered by the Raptors for the MLE.

Redick has shown he can make the three and probably beat Kapono one on one.
Brown has shown he can dunk both at the all-star game weekend and during games that count.Barnes has shown that he can pack his suitcase and repack it and repack it.
Brewer has he ever shown anything in the NBA worth remembering?

None of those players, Barnes/Brewer/Brown/Redick, names have been mentioned by any source as ones that Toronto has interest in. That is just Doug Smith's personal list of the 4 that might fit best in Toronto.

If you read his latest blog and his article he links in it, the only player he mentions that a source has told him the Raptors have interest in is Ryan Gomes.

No free agents that aren't linked to potential Bosh destinations have been mentioned anywhere yet. If Colangelo is committed to improving defense then Ronnie Brewer is far ahead of everyone.

No one was praising Barnes' defense until he landed in Orlando. In Phoenix he did nothing to improve their defense. I think his weaknesses are being hidden by Dwight's dominance and Rashard's good defense. Their team plays good D overall and are well coached. You put Barnes on the Raptors and he'll be in the boat next to Hedo. You'll be scratching your head wondering how such a defensive drop off could occur. Barnes is not a defensive difference maker like Brewer is.

No free agents that aren't linked to potential Bosh destinations have been mentioned anywhere yet. If Colangelo is committed to improving defense then Ronnie Brewer is far ahead of everyone.

No one was praising Barnes' defense until he landed in Orlando. In Phoenix he did nothing to improve their defense. I think his weaknesses are being hidden by Dwight's dominance and Rashard's good defense. Their team plays good D overall and are well coached. You put Barnes on the Raptors and he'll be in the boat next to Hedo. You'll be scratching your head wondering how such a defensive drop off could occur. Barnes is not a defensive difference maker like Brewer is.

Um, Barnes WAS known for his defense before he signed with the Magic. He just enjoyed his best defensive year with the Magic because of Dwight Howard, but he didn't suck in the department prior to that.

Barnes, 29, averaged 10.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists last season for Phoenix and is regarded as a versatile player off the bench who can guard forwards of all sizes and make the occasional 3-point shot.

I like JJ Reddick, hope it's him if only to get a guy who torches us onto our side. He also played very well in the playoffs this year for the magic and will give us the spot up shooter we've been missing since Kapono started to suck.

I'm sorry, on another thread you're arguing that the Raptors should start Marcus Banks because the most important thing for the Raptors is defense, but then you turn around here and say you think they should sign J.J. Reddick????

ANYONE who has complained about the Raptors defense should not be pining for a below average defensive player to be signed by the Raptors.

Balls of Steel wrote:

PS> I know that trades happen to destinations one least expects. Now, I know that New Jersey is in the mix. Couldn't we deal Bosh to them in the hopes that it would somehow net us Favors? I know they won't part with Lopez in as much as Chicago won't part with Noah. Thoughts?

Actually, I would compare New Jersey keeping Lopez to Chicago keeping Rose. As in there's absolutely no way they'd trade him. He's a potential All-Star calibre center who can score in the post and step outside, rebound and play defense.

Favors, on the other hand, they are apparently not set on keeping if the right deal comes along. I think they're crazy, but if New Jersey can convince Bosh to sign with them, Favors would be a great return for him. He's 18 and possibly still growing, so very well might end up being able to play center. He's bigger and stronger than Davis and if those two could pair up together in the future, it would be an incredibly intimidating front line defensively.

jeff_hostetler wrote:

I also think it would be a mistake to sign anyone before we know what's going on with Bosh - simply because we can't say yet who or what will be coming back. Say he chooses Houston - whereby we get 2 SF's in return, negating a need to sign one, and in fact creating a logjam there. Likewise to the Bulls, where James Johnson or Deng may come back. Likewise, if we get a huge TPE, we could use that on any number of players or a player for any number of positions. Especially if with this "close" to happening signing we get just an average player, which is beyond likely given that it's gonna be for the MLE.

Say we keep Bosh - doesn't that make it more than likely we'll move Turk? Who knows who we'll get in return for him.

This has the potential to keep us medicore more than anything else, filling a need that may turn out not to be a need, and I'm saying this having no idea who they're really targeting. Regardless, it still is a mistake to sign anyone at this point, unless one of two things:

1) Unless they're targeting Josh Childress
2) Unless this potential signing is not for a SF, in which case, this post is moot.

This might be a ploy to force Bosh's hand and/or get better sign and trade offers for him. First they spread the rumour that they might not be interested in doing a sign and trade with Bosh, then send out signals they are going to be using their MLE, which would back this up.

Or they simply may feel that by waiting, they may lose any players they have interest in.

I do think it would be hard to figure out who they'd want, however, if they still are planning to make a bunch of moves. Unless this is a "don't wait" signing like Brendan Haywood, Luis Scola or Mike Miller, which is not very likely.

Um, Barnes WAS known for his defense before he signed with the Magic. He just enjoyed his best defensive year with the Magic because of Dwight Howard, but he didn't suck in the department prior to that.

I never said he sucked. I said he's not a defensive force and he certainly isn't the sort of impact defensive difference maker that Ronnie Brewer is becoming. You drop him down in the Raptors system and he won't have the extra something to overcome the incompetence of many of those around him in the rotation. Ronnie Brewer has the know how but he also has elite athleticism. Ronnie is going to be an elite defender when he hits his prime. That's my guess. You sign him and in a couple years the Raptors will have one of the most explosive defensive wing parings in the league in him and DeMar.

Given the Raps current roster, and trying to envision how the roster may look come October, I would think that, having now though about it a touch more, a Raps MLE signing that accomplishes one of the following three things for us would be a success in my opinion.

1) Defensive and quick 1, 2 or 3 that can shoot the 3 ball.
2) Veteran 2-guard with a high IQ that leads and compels Derozan and Weems to get better.
3) A "glue-guy" SF that would in general help the second unit play better (ie, matches well with the projected 2nd quarter players), and can hit the occasional clutch shot.

Not sure who those players might be....do any of the previously mentioned fit any of those 3 slots?

Barnes is an average defender at best who greatly benefited by having Superman cover his ass. Prior to his time with Orlando he was average at best. Unfortunately the Raptors don't have Superman playing center for them, but more like Lois Lane.

Actually Bargnani has shown he can play some one on one defense but then Lois didn't do to badly with Clark.

Brewer is better than Barnes but he is a wing guy that can't shoot and can't rebound. His entire game is based upon his athleticism. He is a young Antoine Wright without a three point shot.

He's a younger Antoine Wright? I think that's way off. Wright doesn't get steals for one. Brewer averages 1.5 steals per game for his career. That's only in 26 MPG. He grabs 3RPG for his career, which isn't bad and although he isn't a great shooter he doesn't take bad shots, evident by his career 52% FG. Brewer is the true definition of a glue guy.

One more thought, who cares about his long range shooting. Do you want to fix the defense or add offense? What's more important?

Buddahfan your way off on Brewer. Athletically he is two times the athlete that wright is. Vertical jump shows it Brewer -40 inch wright - 30 inch. Brewer is 3 years younger and much better player alround then wright. Brewers dad played in the nba and I think Brewer is athletic enough to back up Turk. Brewer is also strong and fast and has a nice simple offensive game. Childress and Brewer are my two prefered choices then Barnes, Gomez and Riddick.

I'm sorry, on another thread you're arguing that the Raptors should start Marcus Banks because the most important thing for the Raptors is defense, but then you turn around here and say you think they should sign J.J. Reddick????

ANYONE who has complained about the Raptors defense should not be pining for a below average defensive player to be signed by the Raptors.

Acually from what I've been reading Reddick is not nearly as bad defensively as people like to think. This is from David Thorpe

I find it absurd that you think JJ can not guard any starting two guard in the NBA. A good defenderís foundation is typically built on toughness, disposition, and intelligence. I have no doubt about his toughness and intelligence, and his disposition to defend should not be a problem if his coach tells him that he wonít be playing without trying to defend.

Now this was written a few years ago, but I see no reason that this doesn't still apply to Reddick. He may not be the best defender in the league, but he's ahead of where DeRozen was last season and I don't think he will hurt us defensively as much as you make out.

"When Life gives you lemons, you clone those Lemons to make super lemons!"
-Scudworth

Now this was written a few years ago, but I see no reason that this doesn't still apply to Reddick. He may not be the best defender in the league, but he's ahead of where DeRozen was last season and I don't think he will hurt us defensively as much as you make out.

don't think Reddick is as bad defensively as people think, but he's still below average. You just need to watch him to see that. And Howard makes anyone look better. Reddick simply doesn't have the physical abilities to be even an average defender, I don't think. DeRozan struggled defensively mostly because he was a rookie. He's got the ability to be an above average defender and showed that in the last part of his year in college.

Redick is not a bad defender, he's very good at chasing people on screens and is quick enough to hold his own. Nothing lockdown, but not bad. His size is an issue, but he's so far managed to hold off people from exploiting him in the post (maybe because of D12, I don't know). The ball-handling is poor and he can't finish at the rim. Long story short, he's a backup.

He's a younger Antoine Wright? I think that's way off. Wright doesn't get steals for one. Brewer averages 1.5 steals per game for his career. That's only in 26 MPG. He grabs 3RPG for his career, which isn't bad and although he isn't a great shooter he doesn't take bad shots, evident by his career 52% FG. Brewer is the true definition of a glue guy.

One more thought, who cares about his long range shooting. Do you want to fix the defense or add offense? What's more important?

Wow, couldn't have said it better. I completely agree with Appolo here. As long as he is taking high percentage shots, who cares if he can hit the 3 ball. Another strong point made is that were trying to fix our defence not offence, so who cars if he can't shoot from 3. Personally i'd take Brewer in a heartbeat. Gomes would not be all that bad either.

honestly i hope its jj as well......we need somebody off the bench who can hit the open shot as well as drain the 3 with consistency unlike some former raptors (cough cough kapono) but i wouldnt mind seeing barnes as well